Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

Fernando Alonso (ESP)
Lewis Hamilton (GBR)

Wins: 4 (Alonso – 2, Hamilton – 2)
Podiums: 15 (Alonso – 6, Hamilton – 9)
Poles: 4 (Alonso – 1, Hamilton-3)
Points: 128 (Alonso – 58, Hamilton – 70)

TPL Rating: 10 out of 10

It has been a dream year for McLaren Mercedes this season. After a winless 2006, their first season without a victory since 1996, it has been a complete turnaround for the Woking team. They currently lead both championships and look set to land a championship for the first time since 1999. It looked to be a transitional year for McLaren with a brand new driver line-up and new sponsors, including title sponsor Vodafone, yet they have managed to bring it all together quicker than was originally expected.

Fernando Alonso originally seemed to settle in well with McLaren. He was quick in pre-season testing, then begun the year well with second place at the season-opening Australian GP, and followed this up with his first win for the Anglo-German team next time out in Malaysia. He also took a convincing win at Monaco, and scored a podium at his home race in Barcelona. Yet he has look ragged at times and off the pace, notably at Bahrain and Canada. There are some cracks beginning to show in Alonso's armour that weren't evident at Renault, and Alonso has said himself that he doesn't feel entirely comfortable at Macca just yet. Can he turn it around in the second half of the season?

Lewis Hamilton - what else can you say about him? The 22 year old from Stevenage came onto the F1 scene after brilliantly winning the GP2 title in 2006, and many people thought Ron Dennis was taking a gamble in placing a rookie in the car to help turn round the team's fortunes. But his performances have been nothing short of sensational. So far he has stood on the podium at every race this season, and has even took his first two victories in F1 at the trans-Atlantic races in Canada and the USA. But at the last two races in France and Britain it looked like Ferrari has edged ahead of McLaren on pace, and time will tell whether this young Brit can continue to improve and possibly take the title at the first time of asking


Do you agree with this? Rate the team and have your say

I went with 8 as they are ahead in both championships with both drivers ahead of the rest... but Ferrari have won more races and have looked stronger in the two most recent races...

I can't believe some one actually voted a 10.... <doh>

Maybe for the 1988 season I would have given a 10... but not 2007 <roflmao>

They have done the best job of all the teams, so 10 is a fair assessment IMO. They lead both championships and their drivers are 1 and 2 in the championship, not sure how you can better that.

10 is a perfect score...

It leaves NO room for any improvement, as I said IMO even the 1988 season when they lost only 1 race that would deserve a 10.

Or... if McLaren from now to the end of the season win every race then I would reconsider my 8 to a 10... but on their performance this season to date... 8 max.


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I should add that as yet we have no similar poll on the Ferrari team.... they naturally would rank a 7 as they are behind McLaren. <thumbsup>

I gave them a 9, because the only thing that has let them down so far is their poor strategic decisions in France and (to a lesser extent) Britain.

I gave them 8 because they were beaten by Raikkonen in Austrailia and have lacked pace in the last 2 races.

I base my scores as relative ones. Relative to Mclaren, Ferrari are several points behind.

I gave them 9/10
I based it on their performance compared to last year..... Probably should have given them 900 <think>

You can't give them a 10, they haven't finished first and second in every race! They're roughly equal with Ferrari - sometimes they have the advantage, other times Ferrari have the advantage. Both teams can still improve. A nine from me.

I'd give them a 9/10. They did a pretty much perfect job in the close season in changing a mediocre car into a championship contending one, and then they took the edge from Ferrari 4 or 5 races into the season. However Ferrari are currently stronger. If they don't address this, they might lose both championships. Regardless of which, it will have been an excellent season. Signing Alonso and Hamilton was a shrewd decision by Ron Dennis that, if they can keep tensions under control, will pay off massively in future.

Of Hamilton v Alonso, there is a lot to say. Hamilton has really captured everyone's imagination, has driven aggressively yet with control, and deservedly leads the championship. Some of his drives have been spectacular, and I must admit around the USGP I thought Hamilton was going to stroll away with the title. However, since then, Ferrari have come back and Alonso has got back into his stride too, which means he will have to keep his cool for the remainder of the season if he is going to win the title. Up until Silverstone, it had looked like that wouldn't be a problem. However, the error in the pits showed he is human and does make mistakes.

Which will encourage Alonso, who has, despite being slightly quicker in most GPs, been below par this year, and showed the same impatient attitude he showed in Canada '06 when put under pressure, at the same circuit this year, and also at his home race in Catalunya.

If Alonso can just calm himself down I feel he can beat Hamilton, as, in my opinion at least, there is a very slight but nonetheless very real gap in speed between the two. Whether he will beat Hamilton is entirely another matter.

9 - Alonso's had some dodgy races.